Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
Abstract Optimal mental workload plays a key role in driving performance. Thus, driver-assisting systems that automatically adapt to a drivers current mental workload via brain–computer interfacing might greatly contribute to traffic safety. To design economic brain computer interfaces that do not c...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80477-w |
| _version_ | 1818858539005771776 |
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| author | Christoph F. Geissler Jörn Schneider Christian Frings |
| author_facet | Christoph F. Geissler Jörn Schneider Christian Frings |
| author_sort | Christoph F. Geissler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Optimal mental workload plays a key role in driving performance. Thus, driver-assisting systems that automatically adapt to a drivers current mental workload via brain–computer interfacing might greatly contribute to traffic safety. To design economic brain computer interfaces that do not compromise driver comfort, it is necessary to identify brain areas that are most sensitive to mental workload changes. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy and subjective ratings to measure mental workload in two virtual driving environments with distinct demands. We found that demanding city environments induced both higher subjective workload ratings as well as higher bilateral middle frontal gyrus activation than less demanding country environments. A further analysis with higher spatial resolution revealed a center of activation in the right anterior dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The area is highly involved in spatial working memory processing. Thus, a main component of drivers’ mental workload in complex surroundings might stem from the fact that large amounts of spatial information about the course of the road as well as other road users has to constantly be upheld, processed and updated. We propose that the right middle frontal gyrus might be a suitable region for the application of powerful small-area brain computer interfaces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T08:57:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d274fe8937249b09c9e2a19a711e647 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T08:57:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d274fe8937249b09c9e2a19a711e6472022-12-21T20:28:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-01-0111111010.1038/s41598-020-80477-wShedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy studyChristoph F. Geissler0Jörn Schneider1Christian Frings2Department of Cognitive Psychology, University of TrierDepartment of Computer Science, Trier University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Cognitive Psychology, University of TrierAbstract Optimal mental workload plays a key role in driving performance. Thus, driver-assisting systems that automatically adapt to a drivers current mental workload via brain–computer interfacing might greatly contribute to traffic safety. To design economic brain computer interfaces that do not compromise driver comfort, it is necessary to identify brain areas that are most sensitive to mental workload changes. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy and subjective ratings to measure mental workload in two virtual driving environments with distinct demands. We found that demanding city environments induced both higher subjective workload ratings as well as higher bilateral middle frontal gyrus activation than less demanding country environments. A further analysis with higher spatial resolution revealed a center of activation in the right anterior dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The area is highly involved in spatial working memory processing. Thus, a main component of drivers’ mental workload in complex surroundings might stem from the fact that large amounts of spatial information about the course of the road as well as other road users has to constantly be upheld, processed and updated. We propose that the right middle frontal gyrus might be a suitable region for the application of powerful small-area brain computer interfaces.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80477-w |
| spellingShingle | Christoph F. Geissler Jörn Schneider Christian Frings Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study Scientific Reports |
| title | Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study |
| title_full | Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study |
| title_fullStr | Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study |
| title_short | Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study |
| title_sort | shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving a functional near infrared spectroscopy study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80477-w |
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